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A sensitive amperometric immunosensor has been prepared by immobilization of capture antibodies onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) grafted on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) through aryl diazonium salt chemistry using 4-aminothiophenol (AuNPs-S-Phe-SPCE). The immunosensor was designed for the accurate determination of clinically relevant levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in human serum samples. The nanostructured electrochemical platform resulted in an ordered layer of AuNPs onto SPCEs which combined the advantages of high conductivity and improved stability of immobilized biomolecules. The resulting disposable immunosensor used a sandwich type immunoassay involving a peroxidase-labeled detector antibody. The amperometric transduction was carried out at −0.20 V (vs the Ag pseudo-reference electrode) upon the addition of hydroquinone (HQ) as electron transfer mediator and H 2 O 2 as the enzyme substrate. The nanostructured immunosensors show a storage stability of at least 25 days, a linear range between 0.014 and 15 ng mL −1 , and a LOD of 4 pg mL −1 , which is 100 times lower than the established cut-off value for heart failure (HF) diagnosis. The performance of the immunosensor is advantageously compared with that provided with immunosensors prepared by grafting SPCE with p-phenylendiamine (H 2 N-Phe-SPCE) and attaching AuNPs by immersion into an AuNPs suspension or by electrochemical deposition, as well as with immunosensors constructed using commercial AuNPs-modified SPCEs. The developed immunosensor was applied to the successful analysis of human serum from heart failure (HF) patients upon just a 10-times dilution as sample treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple and efficient synthesis of indanones, bearing a quaternary carbon centre, has been developed. The method features, in a one-pot process, the use of a multi-task palladium catalyst for the sequential Heck-reduction reactions, followed by a base-mediated cyclization–alkylation sequence. This methodology, called Heck-reduction–cyclization–alkylation (HRCA), is carried out under mild and simple experimental conditions with the use of inexpensive reagents. The mild conditions have been made possible by the use of diazonium salts that allow Heck couplings at moderate temperature (40°C) under ligand-free conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A label-free immunosensor based on the modulation of the electrochemistry of a surface bound redox species, to detect the presence of antibodies, is demonstrated. In this proof of concept study the model epitope was biotin and the model antibody was anti-biotin IgG. Glassy carbon (GC) electrode surfaces were first modified with 4-nitrophenyl groups by electrochemical reductive adsorption of the corresponding aryl diazonium salt. Subsequently, the nitro group was reductively converted into an amine, giving 4-aminophenyl groups. Oxidatively shortened single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were then covalently attached to the electrode via self-assembly; a procedure that has previously been shown to give SWNTs aligned normal to the surface. 1,1-Di(aminomethyl)ferrocene was attached to the carboxylic acid terminated SWNTs followed by attachment of biotin to the remaining free amine of the ferrocene derivative. Binding of anti-biotin IgG to the surface bound epitope resulted in attenuation of the ferrocene electrochemistry. This label-free immunosensor was successfully able to detect anti-biotin between 30 and 450ngmL−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A simple, fast and sensitive amperometric immunosensing method for the determination of the clinically relevant cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in saliva complying the requirements demanded for this kind of sample is reported. The target analyte was sandwiched between a specific capture antibody covalently immobilized on a screen-printed electrode functionalized by the diazonium salt grafting of p -aminobenzoic acid, and a biotinylated detector antibody labeled with a streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The amperometric responses measured at - 0.20 V vs Ag pseudo-reference electrode upon addition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of hydroquinone as the redox mediator allowed a calibration plot with a linear range between 2.5 and 2000 pg mL−1 and a low limit of detection (1.6 pg mL−1) to be obtained. In addition, a good selectivity against other non-target proteins was achieved. The developed method was validated by analyzing a WHO 1st International Standard for IFN-γ. In addition, the immunosensor was used for the determination of the endogenous IFN-γ in saliva with results in excellent agreement with those obtained by a commercial ELISA kit. Image 1 • Sandwich immunosensor for interferon-γ. • Screen-printed carbon electrode modified by p -ABA electrochemical grafting. • Biotinylated detector antibody labeled with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase. • Linear range between 2.5 and 2000 pg mL−1. • Accurate determination in saliva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]